2023-12-31-accounts

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Woolwich Garrison Church Trust

Charity No. 1168633

Trustees' Report and Unaudited Accounts

31 December 2023

Woolwich Garrison Church Trust Trustees Annual Report

The Trustees present their report with the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Charity No. 1168633

Principal Office

White House Crooms Hill London SE10 8HH

Trustees

The following Trustees served during the year:

S. Ahmad

D. Ball (appointed 1-10-23)

T. Barnes

D. Beattie OBE

A. Blundy

J. Bonwick

P. Franklin

S. Garuna (appointed 1-12-23)

D. Gardner (resigned 1-12-23) Shane, The Viscount Gough (deceased 14-4-23)

J. James

D. Pendergast (resigned 1-10-23)

D. Rome

M. Storey

P. Waller

A. Ward

C. Young

Key Management Personnel

Chairman Secretary Treasurer

Tim Barnes KC Andrew Blundy Miles Storey

Bankers

Handelsbanken 1 Creswell Park Blackheath London SE3 9RD

Woolwich Garrison Church Trust Trustees Annual Report

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

• To accept from Heritage of London Trust Operations Limited a long lease of the Listed Building known as St

• George’s Garrison Church, Woolwich, and the land adjacent thereto

• To fund raise on behalf of the Church and to complete the restoration of subsisting parts of the Church (substantially a ruin), to ensure its enhancement by landscaping, and to maintain the mosaics and surviving parts of the Church in a good state of repair

• To use the Church for services and inter-faith events and for community events appropriate to its history,

• military connections and Listed Building Status

• To maintain regular public access to the Church

• To develop a Friends organisation to support its objectives

• To provide an education centre for people to learn about the history of the Church, its connections with the

• Royal Artillery and the people of Woolwich, and the significance of the Victoria Cross memorial

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

The Church is now well established within the local community both as a place for Services as well as a location for a variety of social and entertainment events.

We hold 4 principal Services each year, and the Church remains consecrated ground. The St George’s Day Service is the event aimed at the Cadet Groups for all 3 Armed Services together with youth groups such as the Boys Brigade, Scouts and St Johns Ambulance. The Service includes the presentation of flags, the performance by the RAF Cadets Band and readings about acts of courage and self-sacrifice. As in previous years there were representatives from various High Commissions and Embassies in London in attendance.

Summer marked the Interfaith Celebration The event involves readings, prayers and music from all the differing faiths represented in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, concentrating on what unites rather than what divides the different religions. The Remembrance Day Service (Sunday 10th November) and the Carol Service (Sunday 15th December) will feature in our Autumn/Winter Newsletter.

The social and entertainment events for the summer provided a full range of activities; ranging from the Blackheath Halls Orchestra Concert to free film shows. Numbers at these types of events have been increasing year on year. The events are either free or at a low price and there is no lovelier place on a summer’s day than the Garrison Church.

I have 4 ambitions for the coming year. Firstly, to complete the re-fitting and re-decoration of the kitchen. This is long overdue. A new and well-equipped kitchen will make the Church more marketable when it comes to hiring it out, as well as making our own “in house” events much improved.

Secondly, I want to engage more local schools with the Church. The Pointer Preparatory School in Blackheath held its Christmas Concert at the Church. But I am keen to build up the number of schools who visit and enjoy the Garrison Church, and particularly to involve local secondary schools.

Thirdly, I intend to press for the retention of the Barracks by the Army. I hope that a successful Armed Forces Day may help in that ongoing discussion.

Finally I am determined that progress will have been made by the end of the year in relation to the Commonwealth & Gurkha Garden. The first step is to obtain planning permission, but this is not likely to be a problem.

In the meantime do come and support us at the Garrison Church. And bear in mind the location is one well suited to a variety of private hire arrangements. Income from such events is an important part of our income stream.

Woolwich Garrison Church Trust Trustees Annual Report

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Woolwich Garrison Church Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed according to the constitution dated 1st December 2015.

At every annual general meeting of the members of the Trust, one third of the trustees shall retire from office, but are eligible for re-appointment. If the number of trustees is not 3 or a multiple of 3 then the number nearest to one third shall retire from office, but if there is only one trustee he or she shall retire.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The Charity is primarily reliant on a mix of donations from the public and grants, as well as Charitable Activities and other trading Activities. In 2023, total income was £50,500 (2022 £102,932) against total expenditure of £40,635 (2022 £44,806).

Reserves policy

The trustees aim to maintain free reserves in unrestricted funds at a level which equates to approximately 6 months of unrestricted charitable expenditure. The trustees consider that this level will provide sufficient funds to respond to applications for grants and ensure that there are sufficient funds available to cover support and governance costs.

Statement of trustees' responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees' annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust deed. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees

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T.Barnes Chair 9 April 2024

Woolwich Garrison Church Trust Independent Examiners Report

Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Woolwich Garrison Church Trust

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Woolwich Garrison Church Trust for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act'). The trustees consider that an audit is not required under s.144(2) of the Act and that an independent examination is needed.

The report on the examination of the charity's accounts was carried out under s.145 of the Act and following the applicable Directions given by s.145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with examination of the accounts giving me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• the accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

• the accounts do not accord with those records; or

• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

John Cockrell

Independent Examiner 35 Woodside Road Essex IG8 0TW

25 March 2024

Woolwich Garrison Church Trust

Statement of Financial Activities

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Woolwich Garrison Church Trust

Notes to the Accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2023

• 1 Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

Change in basis of accounting or to previous accounts

There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and method of accounting) since last year and no changes have been made to accounts for previous years.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds These are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objects of the charity. Restricted funds These are available for use subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal. Income Recognition of Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity income becomes entitled to, and virtually certain to receive, the income and the amount of the income can be measured with sufficient reliability. Income with related Where income has related expenditure the income and related expenditure is expenditure reported gross in the SoFA. Donations and Voluntary income received by way of grants, donations and gifts is included in the legacies SoFA when receivable and only when the Charity has unconditional entitlement to the income. Tax reclaims on Income from tax reclaims is included in the SoFA at the same time as the donations and gifts gift/donation to which it relates. Donated services These are only included in income (with an equivalent amount in expenditure) and facilities where the benefit to the Charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. Volunteer help The value of any volunteer help received is not included in the accounts.

Expenditure

Recognition of Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis. Expenditure includes any Expenditure VAT which cannot be fully recovered and is reported as part of relatable expenditure Expenditure on These comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income and Raising funds fundraising trading costs Expenditure on These comprise the costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its Charitable activities and services in the furtherance of its objects. Activities Other expenditure These are support costs not allocated to a particular activity.

Woolwich Garrison Church Trust Notes to the Accounts

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life

Leasehold property 4% straight line Plant & machinery 20% straight line Fixtures and fittings 20% straight line

Trade and other debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and on hand, demand deposits with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. In the statement of financial position, bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings or current liabilities. In the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents are shown net of bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the company's cash management.

Trade and other creditors

Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

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On 6th August 2018, the London Historic Buildings Trust (formerly Heritage of London Trust Operations) made a grant of a 25-year lease to the Woolwich Garrison Church Trust in respect of St George’s Garrison Church.

The lease allows the Trust to “quietly enjoy the Premises… without any interruption or disturbance by the Landlord.” The annual rent has been fixed at £100 plus VAT per annum for the term of the lease. There was a lease premium paid of £1,000 plus VAT.

The Charity believes the Church falls within the definition of a heritage asset as defined by the Charities SORP, in that it is an historical building held and maintained principally for its contribution to knowledge and culture. It serves as a place of remembrance, has memorials to service personnel and is available as an attraction within the local community.

The Charity has decided not to recognise the Church in its balance sheet for the following reasons:

Firstly, the Church was gifted under a 25-year lease. This would require the Charity to disclose the gift of the building as a donation in the Statement of Fund Activities and then depreciate the building over the following 25 years. To do so would likely distort the accounts to the point where they no longer presented a true and fair view of the activities of the Charity.

More so, valuing the Church is problematic in itself as the building is a ruin, having been bombed during WW11. Valuing the ruin would likely be quite onerous for such a small charity and the value of doing so has to be questioned.

Recognition has only been made of the lease premium on the Church and associated legal costs.

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Purposes and restrictions in relation to the restricted funds:

Commonwealth & Gurkha Garden

Individual Donations and Events held towards the construction of a garden to commemorate the contribution of Commonwealth & Gurkha Armed Forces

Royal Borough of Greenwich

Grant to pay for new Kitchen plus residual of Noticeboard Grant